The Siege of Nicaea

[2.8.4]  Modo vēnit comes dē Nortmannīā, et comes Stephanus, et aliī plūrēs, ac deinceps Rogērius dē Barnavilla. Boamundus dēnique obsēdit urbem in prīmā fronte, et iuxtā eum Tancredus, et posteā dux Godefridus, ac deinde comes Flandrēnsis, iuxtā quem Rotbertus Nortmannus, et iuxtā eum comes Sānctī Egidīī, iuxtā quem Podiēnsis epīscopus. Ita vērō per terram fuit obsessa, ut nēmō audēret exīre neque intrāre. Fuēruntque ibi omnēs congregātī in ūnum: et quis poterat numerāre tantam Chrīstī mīlitiam? Nūllus, ut putō, tot prūdentissimōs mīlitēs nec anteā vīdit nec ultrā vidēre poterit.

[2.8.5]  Erat autem ex ūnā parte urbis immēnsus lacus, in quō Turcī suās mittēbant nāvēs, et exībant et intrābant, et afferēbant herbam, ligna et alia plūra. Tunc nostrī māiōrēs, cōnsiliātī in ūnum, mīsērunt nūntiōs Cōnstantīnopolim, dictūrōs imperātōrī, ut faceret nāvēs condūcī ad Civītō, ubi portus est, atque iubēret congregārī bovēs, quī eās traherent per montānās et silvās, usque approximent lacuī. Quod continuō factum fuit, suōsque Turcopūlōs mandāvit cum eīs. Dīē vērō quō nāvēs fuerant conductae, nōluērunt eās statim mittere in lacum; sed nocte superveniente mīsērunt eās in ipsum lacum, plēnās Turcopōlīs bene ōrnātīs armīs.

(May–June 1097)  The rest of the leaders arrive at Nicaea. At their request, Alexius also sends ships, dragged overland to the Ascanian Lake (modern Lake Iznik), to complete the blockade of Nicaea.

comes dē Nortmannīā: Robert of Normandy. He arrived on June 3, 1097.

comes Stephanus: Stephen of Blois. He was married to Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror, and was Robert of Normandy's brother-in-law.

Rogērius dē Barnavilla: Roger of Barneville. He was late on the scene, coming from Sicily and crossing the Adriatic in the spring of 1097.

in prīmā fronte: i.e., at the main gate, facing north.

Ita: Ita is picked up by ut: “so (closely) besieged … that.”

per terram: The significance of this qualification becomes clear in the next chapter.

fuit obsessa: sc. urbs, i.e., Nicaea.

 

2.8.5

ex ūnā parte urbis: "on (from) one side of the city."

immensus lacus: The Ascanian Lake, modern Lake Iznik.

in quō: CL would be in quem.

afferēbant herbam, ligna: they were bringing fodder for the horses and wood (perhaps for constructing catapaults etc.)

Civītō: Kivitos/Civitos, on the Southern Coast of the Gulf of Nicomedia, near modern Altinova, about 50 km west of Nicomedia (modern Izmit.)

quī eās traherent per montānās et silvās: relative clause of purpose; the oxen would transport the ships.

usque: CL would be usque dum, “until.”

approximent: CL would retain the imperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence.

suōsque Turcopūlōs mandāvit cum eīs: the emperor sent Turcopuli with the boats. The Turcopuli were Byzantine mercenaries (1.3.3).

fuerant: CL would be erant.

2.8.4

deinceps: then, next

obsideō obsidēre obsēdī obsessum: to besiege, blockade (OLD 4.)

ultrā: subsequently, thereafter (OLD 2.)

 

2.8.5

cōnciliō (1): to come together, unite (CL); to engage in consultations, take counsel (ML)

continuō: forthwith, immediately

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